Lasting machine



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LASTING MACHI NE March 25, 1941. J. s. KAMBORIAN LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 25, 1941.

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March 1941- J. s. KAMYBORIAN LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ill till

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Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES LASTING MACHINE Jacob S. Kamborian, West Newton, Mass, as-

signor'to General Research, Inc., Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,879

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for lasting footwear, and more particularly to a machine for lasting the toe portions of shoes. A lasting machine of this type is particularly suitable for use in practicing the method disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 231,939, filed September 27, 1938.

In accordance with the usual prior practice, the insole and upper are first assembled on the last and, after the spindling, pulling-over and side-lasting operations, the last, together with the assembled shoe parts, is mounted bottom-up in a bed-lasting machine wherein the toe portion of the upper is first smoothed about the sides of the last by an upward movement or the wiper members and is then wiped-in over the bottom of the insole by repeated in-and-out movements of the wipers. At some intermediate point in the operation, the surplus stock at the toe, particu-- larly the projecting edge of the toe box, is usually trimmed away.

in ordinary bed-lasting, the upward movement of the Wipers is principally relied upon to draw the upper snugly and smoothly about the toe portion of the last, but during this wiping action the shoe is upside down so that the worker is unable to observe the operation and the upper is not always tensioned as much or as evenly as might be desired.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for lasting the toe portions of shoes and which is eifective to stretch the upper as snugly and evenly as desired about the tip of the last, the degree of stretch being wholly within the control oi? the operator and the machine being so devised that the operation of stretchmg the upper over the tip of the last is observable at all stagesby the operator. I

A further object is to provide a machine for lasting the toe and also, if desired, the iorepart portions of shoes, and including means operative to exert a positive pull on the upper rather than merely depending upon the rubbing or frictional action of moving wipers, the machine preferably including a shoe support which may be rocked about a transverse horizontal axis after the marginal portion of the upper material has been seized by suitable gripping means whereby the upper material may be stretched very tightly about the toe portion of the last.

A further object is to provide a machine such that, after the positive stretching of theupper in full view of the operator, the shoe and the upperstretching means "may be moved as a unit relative to wiping means so as to bring the shoe with the tensioned upper material into the held of action of the wiping means, whereby the upper material at the toe may be wiped inwardly over the bottom of the insole without releasing the stress imposed upon such upper material by the action of the gripping and stretching means.

A further object is to provide a machine having provision for automatically severing the upper material between the gripping means and the Wipers after the latter have clamped the upper Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating upper severing mechanism in detail;

Fig. l is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the upper part of the machine, including the shoe support, a portion of the wiper mechanism and, portions oi the grippers;

Fig. 6 is a plan viewshowing details of the gripper mechanism;

Fig. l is a vertical section through the gripper mechanism; t

Fig. it is a plan view of a modified form of shoe support;

Fig. a is a vertical section substantially on the line ill-ti oi Fig. 8, certain parts being in elevation;

Fig. 1c is a fragmentary diagrammatic view, partly in vertical section, illustrating a modified construction useful in lasting welt shoes;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line iii-41 i oi? Fig. 11;

Figs. 13 and it illustrate in side elevation and plan views respectively another embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of a por-' tion of such embodiment;

Figs. 16 and 17 are perspective views illustrating other embodiments of this invention;

Figs. 18 and 19 are views in side elevation, partly in section, and in plan respectively illustrating still another embodiment ofthis invention; and

Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive illustrate in plan and section yet another embodiment of this invention.

In accordance with this invention the improved lasting machine includes a suitable frame I upon which the shoe support, gripper means, wipers, shoe-engaging pad, and upper covering means are mounted. The machine also comprises suitable controls for actuation by the foot and/or hand of the operator thereby to carry outvthe various steps in the toe lasting operation, it being understood; however, that it is within the purview of the invention to provide power-driven connections for operating the various elements of the machine, if desired.

As illustrated, a foot pedal 2 (Fig. l) is mounted on a long pedal bar 3 which swings about a fixed pivot 4 at the lower part of the machine frame. An upwardly extending link 5 is pivotally connected to the mid-portion of the pedal bar 3. A pivot pin 6 projects from opposite sides of the link 5 intermediate its height and provides pivotal connections for a pair of similar, parallel cam plates 8, each of which is of generally triangular form. The forward corner of each of these plates has pivotal connection at Ill with a fixed bracket I at the front of the machine. The lower corner of each of the cam plates 8 is provided with a suitably shaped edge surface to engage a follower roll l2 on a gripper-actuating link l5 which extends upwardly at the front of the machine. The lower end of this link l5 slides in a guide block I5 which is pivotally supported at the front of the machine so as to permit slight rocking oi the lower end of the link.. The upper end of the link l5 passes through a plate l3 which rests upon a pair of fixed arms I! having convex upper faces (Fig. 1).

The gripper means (Figs. 6 and 7) comprises a single inner gripper jaw member 20 and a pair of outer gripper jaw members 2| each cooperating with the inner member, the jaw members 20 and 2| having suitable corrugated or toothed faces which are adapted firmly to grip the marginal portion of the upper material. Each end of the plate i8 supports a block I9 on which a vertically elongate box-like housing 22 is pivotally mounted, as indicated at 23 (Fig. 7). Within each housing 22 slides a corresponding gripper-actuating rod 24. The lower end of each rod 24 is screw threaded and is provided with nuts 25 which form a stop for the lower end of a coil spring 25 whose upper end engages a washer 26 having a convexly curved upper surface bearing against the under surface of a plate 29 fixed to the link I 5 and vertically reciprocated thereby to actuate the gripper mechanism. Each end of this plate 29 is slotted, as designated by numeral 30, to permit the corresponding rod 24 to extend freely upward therethrough. The upper end of each rod 24 carries a block 21 which slides in the upper part of the corresponding housing 22.

One of the gripper elements 2| is pivotally mounted between the ears 28 at the top of each of the respective housings 22. The lower or tall portion of each element 2| extends between pins 33 and 35 carried by the clock 21, the pin 33 being below and the pin 35 being above, as shown in Fig. 7. Downward movement of the rod 2 will cause the pin 35 to swing the gripper element 2| about its pivot toward the gripper member 20. This movement of the rods 24 is effected by operation of the pedal 2 and the resultant actuation of the link- 5, the cam plates 8, the link l5, and the plate 29.

Adjoining the gripper means is the shoe support, designated generally by the numeral 40 (Figs. 1 and 5). This shoe support includes a supporting stud 4| having an upstanding boss disposed between parallel lugs projecting down-' At the rear end of the plate 46 an adjustable abutment block 4'| is mounted. This block 41 has an inner surface designed to engage the heel end of the shoe upper and to form an abutment thereby to prevent rearward movement of the shoe relative to the supporting plate 46 during the operation of the wipers hereinafter to be described. Preferably the block 41 has a for-' wardly extending part 41 designed to reach forwardly to engage the shank of the shoe. The toe portion of the shoe support is desirably constituted by a plate 49 of a contour more or less corresponding to that of the toe end of a last bottom, the part 39 being rigidly mounted upon the plate 44 and preferably having its upper surface corrugated to assist in properly holding the insole and last in position.

The stud 4| on which the shoe support is mounted is carried by a box-like frame 50, the front and rear sides of which may be open. This frame 50 is pivotally supported by and between 2. pair of links 5| whose lower ends are pivoted on a shaft 5 I carried by brackets mounted on a crossbar El forming part of the frame. By reason of the length of these links 5|, movement of the frame 50 from front to rear does not appreciably change the elevation of the shoe support.

The link 5 extends upwardly beyond the cams 8 and carries a transverse bar 56 (Fig. 2) having rolls 54 at its ends which are movable in slots 55 in parallel cam plates 5?. These plates are pivotally mounted on a shaft 58 having its ends supported by the frame of the machine, and have cam slots 59 (Fig. 1) which are so shaped that the upper ends of the links 5| are swung rearwardly, that is to say, away from the operator, as the pedal 2 approaches the mid-portion of its downward path. Accordingly such a movement of the links i5 results in rearward movement of the box-like frame 50 and of the entire shoe support 40 relative to the frame of the machine. Since the housings 22 extend through the frame 50, the gripper members themselves also move rearwardly as a unit with the shoe support.

The machine is also provided with a shoeengaging saddle or pad Eli designed to engage and press upon the upper part of the forepart of the shoe upper thereby to hold the forepart of'the shoe firmly down upon its support. The saddle member 50 is mounted on a rigid lever aesaess arm 6| which is pivotally supported at 02 upon a fixed bracket 58 at the upper part of themachine frame. The rear end of the frame is articulated to a link 04, the lower end of which carries a roll 66 which engages a cam 00. This cam is pivoted at 69 to a fixed bracket on the frame and has a second pivotal connectionlil with a link II articulated to the rear end of the pedal bar 3. The lower end of the link 04 is articulated to a swinging bar 13, the intermediate portion of which is connected to a tension spring 14 whose opposite end is anchored to a fixed part of the frame. The intermediate part of the bar I also has pivotal connection with a radius rod II that is pivotally connected at its rear end to the machine frame. A tension spring 00 has its lower end secured to a block 1! fixed to the frame and has its upper end fastened to an eye 0|v projecting from the upper part of the link 64. The upper front extremity of the bar 13 engages the lower surface of a stop collar 85 on the link 5. When the pedal 2 and a the bar 3 reach the intermediate point in their downward paths, the cam 60 has been so turned that it has moved the link 04 upwardly and swung the saddle 60 downwardly so as to engage the forepart of the shoe mounted on the sup- Port 40. v

The machine is also provided with suitable wipers W (Figs. 1 and 5) which preferably, although not necessarily, may be provided with heating means to assist in ironing the wiped-- over material against the bottom of the insole. These wipers are arranged above the gripper means and, as here shown, are actuated by a hand-operatedlever 00 conveniently located at one side of the machine. Such wipers and the actuating means therefor may be of any conventional type. As indicated in Fig. 2, electrical heating units 02 are associated with the wipers W.

The machine as illustrated is provided with an electrically operated vibratory cutter I00 (Fig. 3) This cutter is mounted on the upper end of an oscillatory bar IOI (Figs. 3 and 4), the lower end of this bar being pivotally connected to a base member I0l. An electric motor I05 is mounted on this base member and has a shaft extension carrying an eccentric I 06 housed in a slot 'I0I in the bar I0 I-. By thismeans rotation of the motor shaft causes a rapid oscillatory or vibratory movement of the cutter I00 substantially in the direction of the extent of its cutting edge. The

motor shaft also carries a pinion IIO meshing with a gear I I I which meshes with a similar gear I I2 mounted on a shaft I I3 which carries a worm II I engaging a worm wheel I IS. The worm wheel H5 is fixed to a transverse shaft- I I6 which carries an eccentric II'I mounted between two upstanding bars II8 which are fixed to the machine frame. The base I04, on which the motor is mounted, has its oppositeedges arranged to slide in inclined guideways I20 (Fig. 1), the plane of these guideways being substantially parallel to the plane of the cutter I00, and both'of these planesbeing inclined downwardly and forwardly at an angle of approximately 15.

A control switch I30 is conveniently mounted on the wiper actuated lever 90. This switch may be provided with two buttons for starting and stopping the motor I05, respectively, and is connected to the motor by a flexible conductor I2I. When the motor is actuated, a rapidvibratory movement is imparted to the cutter I00 while at the same time the gearing and eccentric I06 cause a gradual advance movement of the base Illalong the guideways I20 so that the cutter is brought into position to sever the upper material at the toe portion of the shoe.

Before the shoe and last are mounted on the support 40, the upper is pulled over the last and tacked to the insole in accordance with the usual applied both to the inner surface of the upper 3 material at the toe and to the toe end of the exposed surface of the insole.

After these preliminary steps have been performed, the shoe is mounted on the support 40 with its toe portion resting upon the member 49 of the support and with the heel end of the shoe upper engaging the abutment member 41. In this position of the shoe the marginal material of the upper at the forepart projects below the insole and is in a position to be engaged by the gripper means. Since the shoe is right side up and since at this stage of the proceeding the shoe support and gripper means are in their most forward position (that is to say, nearest to the operator) where the toe of 'the shoe is out of the field of action of the wipers, the entire upper is clearly exposed to view so that the progress of the operation of stretching the upper about the toe is clearly observable by the operator at all times.

When the parts are satisfactorily positioned, as just described, the operator initiates the downward movement of the pedal 2. The first part of this downward movement swings the cam 8 and draws down the link I5, which results in engagement of the marginal portion of the upper material between the jaws and 2| of the gripper means. Having thus gripped the marginal material, the operator then presses manually down upon. the rear part of the last so as to rock the shoe support about its pivotal support at 43. Since the axis provided by the pivot 43 extends transversely of the last bottom and is located substantially mid-way between the toe and heel of the last, such downward movement of the heel end of the last rocks the toe portion of the last upwardly relatively to the gripper means, the latter being incapable of upward movement as a whole with reference to the horizontal plane of the pivot 43 on which the shoe support is mounted. Such downward rocking of the heel of the last thus draws and stretches the upper material very snu'gly about the toe portion of the last, the

degree of stretch being wholly within the option of the operator and depending upon the force which he exerts in pressing downwardly upon the rear endof the last. I

While the operator maintains this downward pressure upon the rearend of the last, he then further moves the pedal 2 downwardly, thus This causes a bodilyparts moving as a unit but without any relaxation of the stretching tension which has been. applied to the upper material at the toe. This rearward movement of the shoe support and gripping -means carries the shoe into the field ofaction of the wipers W. with the parts thus positioned, further downward movement of the pedal brings saddle 60 down with very heavy pressure, for example, pressure of the order of one thousand pounds, onto the forepart or arch portion of the upper, thus holding the insole very firmly against the support. While the pedal is held in this position, the operator actuates the wipers W by means of the handle 90. The wipers thus force the material inwardly against the lower surface of the insole while the lower marginal portion of the upper material is still held by the gripper means. Thus the material is laid very taut about the toe portion of the shoe and against the bottom of the insole.

As previously described, the wipers W may be heated, thus to iron and flatten the wiped-in material against the insole. While the wipers are maintained in this position, the switch I30 is actuated to start the motor, thereby causing the latter to advance while vibrating the cutter thereby to sever the stretched material between the grippers and the point at which the material is clamped against the bottom of the insole by the wipers. Thereupon the pedal 2 and the handle 90 are released, the motor I05 is stopped, and, by the action of the various springs, theparts are restored to normal position, whereupon the shoe may be removed from the machine.

Fig. 6 illustrates a preferred form of gripper device wherein those parts of the gripper jaws which are to operate closely adjacent to the'tip of the toe are provided with substantially vertically disposed uniform ribs or corrugations, thus to form uniform crimps in the corresponding portion of the upper material, such crimps extending perpendicular to the bottom of the insole. Rearwardly of these vertical corrugations, that is to say, farther from the tip of the toe, the grippers preferably are provided with teeth extending transversely and which are effective to prevent slippage of the upper material from between the gripper jaws.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an optional form of shoe support, which also comprises a single toe supporting plate 49, but which is furnished with a plurality of abutment blocks 41' of different size and shape and adapted to fit shoes of different ranges of size.- Each of these blocks, however, corresponds in function to the block 41 above described. These blocks 41 may be adjustably mounted on a rotary plate or turntable I46 corresponding to the plate 44 above described. Adjusting screws I45 are provided for varying the positions of the respective blocks 41' relative to the vertical axis of rotation of the turntable.

A lasting machine of this type, while particularly advantageous for lasting shoes wherein the upper material is adhesively secured to the toe portion of the insole, may also be employed when a shoe of the welt type is to be lasted. For this purpose the machine may be modified, if desired, as follows:

In the region of the toe portion of the shoe supportthere is provided an upstanding guide I10 (Fig. 10) of generally U-shape in horizontal section and constituting a magazine for the reception of a plurality of pronged toe wires I1I which may be stacked therein, each of these wires being of substantially U-shape and each having inwardly directed prongs I12 (Fig. 11) adjacent to its free ends. A plate 249 (Fig. 12). which corresponds to the plate 49 of Fig. 1, has assembled with it a toggle arrangement comprising a pair of toggle arms 250 arranged when aligned to seat in a transverse recess in the plate 249, the adjoining ends of the toggle arms being pivotally connected to each other and to a vertically movable actuating rod 250. A spring 252 is so arranged as normally to urge the pivotal connection between the toggle arms upwardly into the position indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 12. However, when a shoe with its last has been placed on plate 240 and clamped down by saddle 80, the toggle arms are moved downwardly by the last and also, if desired, by a rod 25I, the movement of such rod being obtained by a foot. pedal or equivalent means (not shown) until the arms are in substantial alignment with each other. Thus their outer ends press against the inner ends of the prongs I12 of a toe wire which has been delivered from the magazine I10 and which is being pressed inwardly toward the rib of the insole by the wipers W, thus clenching the ends of these prongs against the corresponding inner surface portions of the rib so that the wire I1I is firmly anchored in place and holds the upper material against the rib around the toe portion of the shoe.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 set forth another embodiment of this invention which differs from that previously described with respect to the operation of the gripper jaws and 2| and the support of the shoe upper, insole and last during the lasting operation.

The outer gripper jaw members 2I are in this embodiment automatically released after the wipers W have acted to force, the material inwardly against the insole of the shoe. Adjacent the members H are mounted outwardly and downwardly projecting fingers 300 which coact with and release the members 2| in a manner to be described below. Pivotally supported upon studs 30I, attached to posts 302 which are suspended from the wiper bed plate, are a pair of arms 303 normally held by springs 304 with the rear ends in contact, as shown in dotted lines on Fig. 14. At the rear ends of the arms 303 are mounted rotatable rollers 305 and at the forward ends thereof are mounted hammers 306. Attached to the reciprocal bar 9| of the wiper mechanism is a post 301 which projects through a slot in the bed plate. Adjustably carried by a block 308 at the lower end of the post 301 is a finger 300. wedge shaped at its forward end. As the bar 9| is advanced by movement of the lever 90 to actuate the wipers, the finger 309 forces its way between the rollers 305 and separates the rear ends of the arms 303. This separation causes the hammers 306 to strike the fingers 300 and swing the gripper members 2i away from the inner gripper jaw member 20, thereby releasing the material of the upper so that the wipers continue their movement unhindered by the gripper Jaw members.

As shown in Fig. 15, the inner jaw member 20 is fixed to ears 20 upon which the outer jaw members 2I are pivotally mounted, and the members 21 are swung toward the member 20 by pins 35 upon the downward movement of the rod 24. This is similar to the embodiment first described, as illustrated inFig. 7. The pins 35 are carried by a slide 3I0 which is normally connected to the block 21 by a latch 3 carried by the block and yieldably held in engagement with a ledge 3I2 by a spring 3I3. The fingers 300 are pivoted to the slide by studs 3 and are provided with tongues 3| 5. The tongues 3I5 are in the lid iii

ill

til

pressed so that the bar 335 is swung by the spring planes of the latches 3| I, and while in contact with the tips thereoido not, since they are freely movable, interfere under normal conditions with the operation of the latches.

In this embodiment the heel end of the shoe upper is engaged byan adjustably mounted support 325 which includes a post 326 pivoted to an arm 321 which is in turn pivotally supported in a block 328 mounted upon the bottom of the frame 50. The upper end of the post 326 is divided to provide a pair of arms 330 to which is secured a strap 33l of leather or other flexible material against which the heelend rests. A curved strip 332, preferably of 'metal, encloses the strap 33l and is secured at its ends to the arms lid and is provided with a knob 333 or other type of handle by which the post 326 may be swung manually upon its pivot. A bar 335 passed through a slot 336 in the post 326 holds the post at the desired position. Teeth 331! at the upper end of the slot 336 selectively engage teeth 3% in the bar. its end upon a pin 339 carried by a pair of flanged plates Mil fixed to the frame ill and is normally held by a. spring 3M with the teeth 33'! and 338 in mesh. A spring 342 attached to the arm Ml serves to support the arm yieldably iii-opposition to the weight of the post 326 and the elements associated therewith. Mounted upon the top of the link it is a knob or button 3 13 which normally holds the bar against the urge of the spring til so that it is disengaged from the post bit. I

The toe of the assembled last and upper rests upon a button t lt and a stud pin 3%. The button ttli is stationary and fixed to the top of a bloclr t ll mounted upon the plates did. The stud tit on which the tip of the insole rests is carried by a bar 3M and is yieldably held in contact with the insole by any suitable means as, for example, by a coil spring (not shown). The bar t lt is supported by the block Bill which has a slot t lt therethrough to receive the forward end of the bar. The stud extends within the arc of the gripper member it and is yieldably held in contact therewith by a spring 350 within the slot t lt which acts upon the bar 348. The rear end of the bar did is provided with bolt dbl adjustable as to length by nuts 552. Carried by the forward end of the wiper-actuating reciprocal bar 9! is an angle plate the, to the rear face oi. which is fixed in any suitable manner a bloclrtbt. Carried within a slot ttt in the block and project-- mg beyond the forward face of the plate 353 is a bar tab. ment with the bar t lt and rests at its inner end upon aspring til within the slot 355. The bar tit, upon the forward movement of the wiper bar ti, strikes the bolt iii of the bar Md an shifts the stud t lt forwardly.

The lasting operation with a machine equipped with the embodiment shown in Figs. iii, 1d and follows in general that previouslydescribed, and only the changes necessitated by this emfbodiment will be here discussed. The shoe, preliminarily prepared as set forth above, is placed in position with. the top resting on the button t lt and stud t lt. The stud Mt bears against the insole near the tip and is depressed by the shoe as the latter is forced into the lasting position with. the marginal material of the upper in positionto be grasped by the gripper iaw members it and ii. Upon depressing the foot pedal, the marginal material is gripped by the members and ii and the lrnob ill on the limit it is de- The bar 335 is pivoted intermediate The bar the is substantially in align- 3 into engagement with the post 326. The operator thereupon swings the support 325 into engagement with the heel end of the shoe, in which position it is held by the bar 335. Y

The shoe is then moved into the held of action of, the wipers W and the insole clamped by the saddle 60 against the support. The shoe being so positioned by the depression of the foot pedal, the wipers W are actuated by the handle 90 to force the marginal material inwardly against the lower surface of the insole. as the wiping action continues, the bar 356 is advanced by the plate 353 and bar ill into contact with the bolt 35l of the bar 348 and moves it forward against the urge of the spring am. The stud 34B is thereby moved away from the tip of the insole so that the stud will not interfere with the movement of the wipers.

After the wiping action has continued a little longer, the hammers tilt, due to the advance of the linger 309, are swung into contact with the fingers 300. The fingers tall are swung against the latches 3! I to move them from the ledges iii and release the slide 3ft from the block ill. The

weight of the upper ends of the members it is such that the latter, under the force of gravity, will swing away from the member Wand release the marginal portion of the upper. The wiping operation continues to completion, whereupon the foot pedal is released and the elements actuated thereby resume their normal positions. The knob 343 on the rising linlr it then this the bar tilt to release the heel and support till so that it may be retracted and the shoe be removed.

Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate modifications of the gripper mechanism in that the outer Jaw member is moved to and from the inner jaw member in a common plane and not as in the mechanism described above in which the outer jaw members 2! are pivoted and swung through arcs into and out of engagement with the inner jaw member ill.

In Fig. 16 the inner gripper jaw member 3% inor both ends of the crossbar ltd are provided wtih an eye 365 which receives a guide bolt tit projecting rearwardly from the member tit and terminating at its rear end in. a head till. a spring 366' surrounding the bolt 3% normally holds the member tut spaced from the member 350 at the'distance fixed by the head Ilt'i against which the eye act bears. Catches tit pivoted upon the rear face of the bar did normally engage notches 36d in the rods tilt fora purpose to be described. Only one catch tit and one notch iii are shown in the drawings. Slidable in contact with the forward face of the inner gripper jaw member bit is a U-shaped yoke dlt. Angle brackets ill secured to the sides of the legs position the yolre laterally. Keys iii fired to the sides of the yoke arms tit and extending between the legs tti and the brackets ill I! guide the reciprocation of the yolre till. The upper ends of the arms iii are enlarged to provide cams ti l. Rollers dill carried by the rods ti l ride against the forward edges of the arms tilt and are held in contact therewith by springs tit surrounding the rods ti t and fixed at the rearward ends to the rods. Arms ill carrying hammers did, similar in construction, function and operation to the arms tilt and hammers tit of the lid embodiment shown in Figs. 13 and 14, are provided for reasons which will be set forth below.

' tion 38! is rigidly secured to a crossbar 383 which is fixed to the rearward ends of the rods 364. Mounted upon the tops of the legs 3M are angle plates 384 having arcuate slots 385 which receive pins (not shown) in the forward ends of the sections 382.

When either of the forms of gripper mechanism are substituted forthose previously described, the housings 22, rods 24, and associated parts are removed and the link 15 is extended through the frame 58 and attached to the yoke 310. Depression of the foot pedal will cause the link E5 to move the yoke 310 downwardly, whereupon the outer gripper jaw member is advanced to clamp the marginal material against the inner gripper jaw member 355.

The mechanism of Fig. 16 is released after the wipers have turned the upper inwardly, as in the embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14, through the release of the catches 363 by the hammers 318 of the arms 3'31. the springs 366 return the bar 353 and outer gripper jaw member 352 independently of the rods 364 which are returned by the springs 316 after the lasting operation has been completed and the foot pedal allowed to return to its normal position.

The mechanism of Fig. 17 remains in gripping relation until the lasting operation has been completed and the foot pedal released.

Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate another variation of the gripper mechanism shown in Fig. 16 applied for convenience to the embodiment shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Such elements as are the same as those disclosed and described in these embodiments will be indicated on Figs. 18 and 19 with the same reference characters and will be referred to below thereby. Detail descriptions of such elements are believed unnecessary and will be omitted.

The stationary inner gripper bar member 450 is supported upon suitable legs -45! on the top of the frame 50. The movable outer gripper bar member 452 is carried between the upper ends of arms 453 fixed at the lower ends to a rod 454 pivotally supported upon a bracket 455 projecting from the frame 50. A link 456 pivoted at its lower end to the block 328 carries at its upper end a roller 45? yieldably held by a spring 458 in contact with the forward face of the link i5. An angle arm 459 is pivoted at one end to the link 45% and is provided in its upper edge with a notch 460 with which normally engages a roller 46E on the rod 464. A spring 462 yieldably supports the arm 45%. The arm 459 terminates in an inclined surface 463. Movement of the rod 454 in a clockwise direction is limited by a stop plate 464 adjustably carried by a bolt 465 projecting forwardly from the machine frame I. Suitable means, for example a coil spring 466, hold the rod 454 in contact with the plate 464.

A cam block 46'! carried by the link 15 is so positioned that when the link I5 is depressed Upon the release of the latches,'

the roller 45'! and swing the link 456 counterclockwise against the urge of the spring 458. This movement of the link 456 draws the arm 459 to the left thereby swinging the rod 454 counterclockwise and causing the outer jaw member 452 to coact with the inner gripper jaw member 450 to clamp the marginal material of the upper. After the marginal material has been gripped, the wiping operation begins, and as the margins are moved against the insole, the roller 410 carried by the bracket 468-is advanced by the block 354 into engagement with the inclined surface 463 of the angle arm 459. As this advance continues, the arm 459 is swung in a clockwise direction about its pivot against the urge of the spring 462 until the roller 46| on the rod 454 is released. Thereupon the rod 454 is moved in a clockwise direction by the spring 468 to separate the outer Jaw member 452 from the inner jaw member 450 and thus release the marginal material of the upper so that the wiping operation can continue to its conclusion.

Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive collectively illustrate a lasting machine embodying this invention wherein the marginal'material of the upper is tacked to the insole after having been moved into position by the wipers. The tacks 400 are fed from a hopper dill through chutes 402 into openings 403 in the bases 404 of the wiper arms W. The tacks pass seriatim into the chutes 402 by the employment of suitable means well known in this art, such as a finger 405. Fixed to'the bases 404 are plates 408 having pockets 401 in which the tacks are supported in the openings 403 (see Fig. 23). The hopper 430i is provided with a plurality of guides 408 along which the tacks slide with the heads up. Each tack released by the finger 405 from the guide 408 drops through the chute with the head down and rests on the base of the pocket in such position with the point in the opening 403 below the upper face of the wiper. A tapered passage 409 leads from the lower face of the plate 406. Supported below the inner gripper jaw member 20 are a plurality of vertically reciprocal rods H0 which extend into openings 4H in the member 20. The openings 4!! are so positioned that, when the Wiping of the marginal material of the upper is completed, they register with the passages 409 in the plates 406. At the proper time the rods 410 are elevated by any suitable means (well known in this art and not here shown) to raise the tacks 400 and secure the material to the insole.

For convenience the tacking instrumentalities are illustrated as employed with the modification oi the gripper mechanism shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. The elements of those figures here shown are indicated on the drawings by the same reference numerals, but no detailed description is believed to be necessary.

While several embodiments of this invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and. that other embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the till spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed to receive a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis intermediateits front and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the last, wipers operative to wipe the upper material in wardly at the toe and to hold it firmly against the bottom surface or the insole, and a cutter movably mounted on the frame and operative to sever the marginal material between the gripping means and the point where it is engaged by the wipers.

2. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed to receive a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis intermediate its front and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the last, means for pressing the marginal upper material against the bottom of the insole, and a cutter movably mounted on the frame and operative to sever the upper material at a point between the gripping means and the last.

3. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed to receive a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis intermediate its front and rear ends whereby downward move ment of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the last, and wipers operative to wipe the marginal upper material inwardly at the toe so as to cause it to lie against the bottom surface of the insole, said gripping means having cooperating complemental ribbed surf aces operative to form uniform crirnps in the marginal material of the upper.

l. it. machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed to receive a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis intermediate its front and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end oil the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the last, wipers movably mounted on the frame and operative to press the marginal material at the toe against the insole or the shoe, and means for moving the support and gripping means as a unit to and from the field of operation of the wipers.

5. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed to receive a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rockabout a transverse axis intermediate its front and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the last, wipers movably mounted on the frame for pressing the stretched marginal material of the upper against the insole of the shoe, a vibratory cutter operative to severthe stretched material between the gripping means-andthe insole, and actuating means for the grippers, the wipersand the cutter.

6. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a movable support upon which a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon may be mounted bottom-down with the marginal portion of the upper at the toe projecting down below the last bottom, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, the support being pivoted to rock about a transverse axis intermediate its ends whereby downward movement oi" the heel end of the last stresses the gripped upper material at the toe, toe-wiping means, means operative to move the support with the last thereon together with the gripping means and the stretched upper into the field of action of the wiping means, means for moving the wiping means inwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom of the insole thereby to wipe the tensioned upper material against the bottom of the insole, and means for severing the tenmeans and the wiper elements.

'7. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a movable support upon which a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon may be mounted bottom-down with the marginal portion of the upper at the toe projecting down below the last bottom, gripping means operative to grip the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means comprising elements operative to form substantially uniform crimps in the upper material, such crimps extending substantially perpendicular to the last bottom, the supporting means being so devised as to permit relative movement between the toe portion of the last and the gripping means thereby to stress the gripped upper material about the toe of the last, wiper elements, means for moving the wiper elements inwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom of the insole thereby to wipe the tensioned material inwardly against the insole bottom, and means for severing the tensloned material which extends between the gripping means and the wipers.

8. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a movable support upon which a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon may be mounted bottom-down with the marginal portion or the upper at the toe projecting down below the last bottom, the support being mounted to rock about a transverse anis intermediate its ends whereby the toe end of the last may be elevated by depressing its rearend, gripping means operative to grip the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the last whereby such movement stresses the gripped upper material about the toe of the last, wiping means, and means operative to move the support and the gripping means as a unit in a direction lengthwise of the last toward and from the wiping means.

9. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising Ill a movable support upon which a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon may be mounted bottom-down with the marginal portion of the upper at the toe projecting down below the last bottom, toe wipers operative to wipe in the marginal material of the upper against the bottom of the insole, the support being 'so normally positioned that shoe parts mounted thereon are out of the field of action of the wipers and freely exposed to view, means operative to grip the margin of the upper at the toe and to stress such margin by relative movement of the gripping means and the toe portion of the last, and means operative to move the support, gripping means and the shoe parts mounted on the support as a unit with the last disposed bottom-down into the path of action of the wipers, and means operative to move the wipers inwardly beneath the last bottom.

10. A toe lasting machine comprising a support for a last having an insole and an upper assembled thereon and with the last bottom-down and substantially horizontal and with the top surface of the upper freely exposed to view, upper gripping means, upper wiping means, the upper gripping means being operative to grip the marginal upper material at the toe, the support and gripping means being movable as a unit in a substantially horizontal direction to carry the upper, while gripped by the gripping means and with the last disposed bottom-down, into the field of action of the wiping means, and means for so moving the support and gripping means.

11. A toe lasting machine comprising a support for a last having an insole and an upper assembled thereon and with the last bottomdown and with the top surface of the upper freely exposed to view, means providing an axis about which the support may rock, said axis extending transversely of the support intermediate the toe and heel ends of the latter whereby downward movement of the heel end elevates the toe end, gripping means operative to grip the marginal upper material at the toe while the toe end of the last is in its lowermost position, said gripping means being incapable of upward movement, whereby depression of the heel end of the upper stresses the gripped upper material at the toe, and wiping means operative to engage the stressed upper at a point intermediate the last and the gripping means.

12. A toe lasting machine comprising a support for a last having an insole and an upper assembled thereon and with the last bottomdown and with the top surface of the upper freely exposed to view, means providing an axis about which the support may rock, said axis extending transversely of the support intermediate the toe and heel ends of the latter whereby downward movement of the heel end elevates the toe end, gripping means operative to grip the marginal upper material at the toe while the toe end of the last is in its lowermost position, said gripping means being incapable of upward movement whereby depression of the heel end of the upper stresses the gripped upper material at the toe, wiper means, means for actuating the wiper means, and means operative to actuate the gripping means and thereafter to move the support and gripping means as a unit into the field of action of the wiping means.

13. A toe lasting machine comprising a support for a last having an insole and an upper assembled thereon and with the last bottom-down and with the top surface of the upper freely exposed to view, means providing an axis about which the support may rock, said axis extending transversely of the support intermediate the toe and heel ends of the latter whereby downward movement of the heel end elevates the toe end, gripping means operative to grip the marginal upper material at the toe while the toe end of the last is in its lowermost position, said gripping means being incapable of upward movement whereby depression of the heel end of the upper stresses the gripped upper material at the toe, wiper means, means for actuating the wiper means, means operative to actuate the gripping means and thereafter to move the support and gripping means as a unit into the field of action of the wiping means, means for delivering pronged toe wires into the path of the wipers whereby such a toe wire is caused to embrace the toe portion of the rib of a welt insole, and means operative to clench the prongs of the toe wire after it has thus been positioned by the wiping means.

14. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed I to receive a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis intermediate its front and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe. of the last and including an inner gripper jaw member and an outer jaw member movable relative to the inner member to grasp the material, a stud pin against which the tip of the insole rests, wipers operative to wipe the upper material inwardly at the toe and to hold it firmly against the bottom surface of the insole, and means operable as the wipers act for moving said stud pin along the insole away from the tip thereof.

15. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed to receive a last with an insole and upper asseim-- bled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis intermediate its front and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the last and including an inner gripper jaw member and an outer jaw member movable relative to the inner member to grasp the material, a stud pin against which the tip of the insole rests, wipers operative to wipe the upper material inwardly at the toe and to hold it firmly against the bottom surface of the insole, and means operable as the wipers act for moving said stud pin along the insole away from the tip thereof, said means being actuated by the wiper operating mechanism. 4

16. A machine for toe lasting shoes comprising a frame, a support carried by the frame designed to receive a last with an insole and upper assembled thereon, the support being pivotally mounted to rock about a transverse axis intermediate its front and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the last to move upwardly, means for gripping the marginal upper material at the toe, said gripping means being relatively stationary as respects upward movement of the toe of the iii ,mnem

the er member to green the terini, n. otnd -pin nnninot which the tip of the ineoie reete, vviioere operetive to wipe the upper iteriei invrordlv at the and to hold it iii; 1 r the hottom once of the insole, men erie no the vriners eot ior mm sold stud nin oionn the insole away from the the there end for moving eald outer jaw member to releuee the mnreinai upper materiel.

it. A machine for toe lasting shoes eomnrisinn n irome, n support carried by the ire deoiened to receive a. last with an insole and upper assemhied thereon, the'eupport being plvotaliy mount ed to rock about a. transverse axis intermediate itr trout and rear ends whereby downward movement of the rear end of the last causes the toe end of the lent to move upwnrdlv, means for gripping the mereinoi uprteriei at the toe, said gripping means 'heing relatively stationery us resnectt upward movement of the toe of the inst and including on inner nripner jaw member and on outer tow member move-hie relotive to the inner member to green the material, it stud pin. against which the tin oi the insole rests, vvipert operntive to wine the upper materiel inwardly et the toe end to hold it hrmiy against the hottom surieee oi the insole, end means operable no the wipert eetior movine eoid stud pin eiong the insole owoy fro the tip thereof end for moving said outer .iaw memher to release the morei upper material, mid means being ootunted hy the wiper operating mechanism. v

JACUB S. KAWORIAN. 

